The TESOL International Convention is happening in my own backyard, and I can’t participate as I am working in Qatar. I hope that my fellow TESL Ontario professionals have the ability to attend and participate in the massive spectacle that is the annual TESOL Convention.
I have had the good fortune to attend three conferences in person and a few more online. My favourite part of the conference, after the professional and personal networking, is the Computer-Assisted Language Learning Interest Section (CALL-IS) TESOL Electronic Village. It is a place where one can meet practitioners of computer assisted language learning, CALL researchers, and others who are curious about using technology with their teaching. I know this place as both a presenter and as a delegate. It is always a great way to grow and learn.
It is also a great venue to see how others are using technology resources with their staff and students. I found that since it is a casual event, it is an appropriate place to spend time discussing development, pedagogical, training, and design issues. It is casual but scheduled. The schedule includes presentations and quite a few open rooms, which allow the delegates to tour a room with devices and computers staffed by experts who are there to demonstrate, discuss, and explain a digital resource or teaching technique or two.
Since 2001, the Electronic Village at the TESOL Conference extends the experience of the Electronic Village Online (EVO), which occurs online for 5 weeks in January and February. The Electronic Village Online offered 13 courses this year. Many of the course leaders and some participants will be available to discuss their experience and the foci of the courses with TESOL International delegates.
As you can see from the list below, not all of the courses focus on technology. If possible, drop into the Electronic Village this March to learn, share, and imagine.
Short courses offered at the EVO in 2015 were:
Using Moodle as a Bridge to Blended Learning
Dream Act: What Teachers Can Do
How to make a Machinima for Learners of English
Information and Communication Technology for English Language Teachers
International Writing Exchange
Non-Native English Speakers in TESOL and Collaborative Teaching
Teaching Pronunciation Differently
Teaching EFL to Young Learners
If you want to have a look at the Electronic Village online surf to http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708567/FrontPage
Pre-registration for TESOL International is available until February 27 at http://www.tesol.org/convention2015/register
Do you think you might go this year?
John Allan @mrpottz
Hi—I'm John Allan. I am an educator who works in the technology enhanced language learning field. I create online learning opportunities on various projects. I have ESL and EFL teaching & training experience in Canada, the United States and the Middle East. I hold an MSC in Computer Assisted Language learning, a M.Ed. in Distance Education, TESL B. Ed., a B.Ed. (OCT), and a variety of TESL relevant certifications from TESL Canada, TESL Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Education. For more articles, learning objects, projects and blog links see https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnharoldallan
I’m excited about the TESOL conference being held here in our own downtown and about presenting at the Electronic Village. I’ll be talking about LinkedIn: basics for professionals (ESL students or teachers!) who are looking for work, especially internationally. This will be my first time at the Electronic Village and I’m looking forward to some discussion of the topic based on questions of those who come by my station. See you there?
Joan, is your presentation related to an Electronic Village Online course or is it a stand-alone event? If it is the latter, is there somewhere where we can see this listing as well as all of the events for the EV at the conference?
break a leg,
John
To see all the EV sessions, go to the conference Education Sessions page and then Itinerary Planner. Choose “Sessions,” then “Day” and “Session Type.” EV sessions run all day long in room 701-B. I’m one of several speakers from 3:30-4:20 on Friday. (It seems that the Electronic Village Technology Event (EV) sessions aren’t listed by day and time like the other session types. )
Joan thanks for this tip. There are so many interesting sessions going on. This is making me miss the event even more.
enjoy,
John
I can’t make it to the conference, so I sure hope webcasts are available for viewing afterward. The previously presented “Teaching Pronunciation Differently” intrigues me greatly. I’ve done a lot of research on that topic since I was once hired to teach pronunciation. This was a good fit for me considering my undergrad minor in linguistics, but funding was unfortunately cut and we no longer offer the class.